Shafaq Sardar

Senior Finance Professional with over 9 years of experience in strategic planning, IFRS reporting, treasury, and risk management. Proven leader in budgeting, forecasting, and delivering financial insights to support executive decisions. Skilled in aligning financial goals with business objectives and managing regulatory compliance. Strong collaborator with auditors, banks, and regulatory bodies. Committed to accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Head of Finance & Accounts - NWP Group - Houston Texas USA

(2022-11)

• Monthly, quarterly and annual closing, trend analysis and reporting.
• Drive budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning; advise the CEO and leadership on long-term growth and cost optimization.
• Ensure accurate IFRS-compliant financial statements; oversee tax and regulatory adherence.
• Account reconciliations and resolving reconciliation items.
• Identify and deliver processes improvements in operations. Updating SOPs aligned with on-going improvement and to ensure quality control checks are in place to mitigate risk of error in operational activities.
• New project implementation and assisting in UATs.
• Manage cash flow, banking, investments, and working capital to maintain financial stability.
• Proactively manage collection of debt on assigned country portfolio, using established business rules, processes and methodology.
• Coordinating with inventory management teams for forecasting and stock management, Dealing with Imports & Exports and periodically reassessing the provisions related to inventories.
• Implement strong internal controls, conduct risk assessments, and lead internal/external audit processes.
• Lead and mentor the finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and performance excellence.
• Internal auditing and liaise with external auditors, regulators, and financial institutions; present insights to the Board and support internal decision-making.
• Inspecting financial statements to catch errors, misstatements and fraud
• Performing audits on systems, operations and accounts Reporting audit findings and recommending improvements.

Assistant Manager Finance. - JnS Education - Australia based operations

(2022-02 - 2022-10)

• Oversaw financial operations supporting Australian university recruitment partnerships, ensuring full compliance with ATO tax and reporting standards
• Negotiated and managed commission structures, contracts and payment terms with multiple Australian universities.
• Oversaw accounts payable/receivable and supported budgeting and financial planning.
• Prepared, reviewed, and processed invoices while applying accurate GST and withholding tax treatment under Australian taxation LAW.
• Supported promotional events and collaborated with marketing on sales materials.
• Assisted higher management in financial planning and performance analysis to optimize profitability and ensure tax compliance.

Finance & Accounts Senior Executive AR/AP - Telenor global Shared services - Norway

(2019-04 - 2022-01)

• Prepares payments by verifying documentation and invoices and requesting disbursements.
• Verification of invoices to process payment to supplier and to ensure receiving of goods and services.
• Team management, supervision and work division.
• Identify and rectify issues related to payment rejections and payment failure.
• Cash management, supporting budgeting and bookkeeping procedures.
• Preparation and reporting of fund forecasting report to arrange and manage funds.
• Participating in Business audits of companies of Telenor group.
• Leading and supporting the mergers of group companies of Telenor.
• Preparation and reporting of aging of overdue payable/invoices and receivable Preparation and circulation of financial reports for analysis and consolidations after MEC.
• Coordinating with Nordea Bank and treasury and third-party service providers’ e.g. Prime revenue.
• Generate TAX invoices on a timely basis for smooth collection and FTA reporting.
• Issue Credit notes & Refunds if required to do so.
• Produce revenue report daily for senior management.
• Reconciling bank statements.
• Preparing profit and loss accounts for senior management
• Help Team lead in the preparation of input for the OSM desk and conduct OSM monthly and quarterly with customers and any third-party service provider
• Monthly closing, analyzing and reporting the billing and collection for each month.
• Coordinating with Sales and Order management teams for billing and collection of charges.

Finance and Admin Officer - Pak Turk Maarif School

(2016-12 - 2018-12)

• Managed budgets, petty cash, payroll, and student fee/admission processes.
• Oversaw bookkeeping, reconciliations, and supported policy, planning, and audits.
• Handled recruitment support, alumni relations, and marketing activities.
• Drafted regulations resolved queries/complaints from students, parents, and faculty.
• Coordinated with suppliers, management, and media on budgets, timelines, and objectives.

ACCA

MBA - Finance - Iqra University Islamabad Pakistan (2013 - 2017)

BSc - Punjab University Lahore Pakistan (2009 - 2011)